Stenographic recording machine



Nov; 1, I94

H. BASTOW STENOGRAPHI C RECORDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 14, 1947 INVENTOR 4 HARRY BAsTow Nov. 1, 1949 H. BASTOW STENOGRAPHIC RECORDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 14, 1947 INVENTOR HARRY BAsTow Patented Nov. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES rte Price 16 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for recording characters. It relates more particularly to machines for recording characters such as are commonly used for mechanical stenography. The invention has to do with improved mechanism for the simplification of records made by machines of the type in question so as to facilitate their transcription.

In my United States Patent N 0. 2,334,693 there is disclosed a machine for recording characters in which simultaneous operation of selectors or keys for a plurality of character recording means or type bars causes recording of the character of another character recording means or type bar. This makes possible the recording or printing on the record receiving medium or strip of more characters than those normally recorded by the individual keys when operated separatel and as a result enables the making of a record which is much more easily read than the records which could be made by stenographic or like machines in which operation of each key caused printing of only one particular character.

My present invention is in the nature of an improvement over that of my said patent. It provides mechanism for accomplishing a similar function but with the important added advantage that a narrower record strip may be employed. The machine disclosed in my said patent has all of the character recording means or type bars arranged in a single line or row so that a record strip must be used which is at least as Wide as the length of the line or row of type bars. I provide for mounting certain of the character recording means or type bars in position ofiset from the type bars which are individually operated by separate operation of the selectors or keys, the offset type bars being operable to record their characters in the same location on the record receiving medium or strip in which at least one of the other type bars would record its character upon operation of its key. I have also considerably improved and simplified the actuating mechanism, rendering the same easier and less eX- pensive to make as well as more rugged and longer lasting and providing a machine which is relatively foolproof and which requires comparatively little servicing.

I provide, in a machin for recording characters, a first character recording means, means including a selector for operating the first character recording means to record its character in a predetermined line, a second character recording means disposed in alignment with the first character recordin means generally in a direction parallel to said line, means including a selector for operating the second character recording means to record its character in said line, a third character recording means disposed out of alignment with the first and second character recording means generally in a direction parallel to said line and means operable upon simultaneous operation of said selectors for operating the third character recording means to record its character in said line. I further provide, in a machine for recor ing characters, a first character recording means, means including a selector for operating the first character recording means to record its character on a record receiving medium, a second character recording means, means including a selector for operating the second character recording means to record its character on the record receiving medium, a third character recording means mounted separately from the first and second character recording means and means operable upon simultaneous operation of said selectors for operating the third character recording means to record its character in the same location on the record receiving medium in which at least one of the first and second character recording means would record its character upon operation of the first mentioned selector.

I still further provide, in a machine for recording characters, a first character recording means, means including a selector for operating the first character recording means generally in a plane to record its character, a second character recording means, means including a selector for operating th second character recording means to record its character, a third character recording means mounted separately from the first and second character recording means and means op erable upon simultaneous operation of said selectors for operating the third character recording means generally in said plane to record its character. 1' also provide, in a machine for recording characters, a first character recording means, mean including a selector for operating the first character recording means to record its character, a second character recording means, means including a selector for operating th second character recording means to record its character, a third character recording means, means operable upon simultaneous operation of said selectors for operating the third character recording means to record its character and connections between the third character recording means and the first and second character recording means for moving the first and second character recording means to non-recording positions upon a recording movement of the third character recording means.

Desirably I arrange a series of type bars in a row and provide means including a selector for operating each of said type bars to record its character, another type bar offset from said row and means operable upon simultaneous operation of a plurality of said selectors for operating the last mentioned type bar to record its character. Means are preferably connected with the last mentioned type bar adapted upon a recording movement thereof to move to non-recording positions the type bars normally operated by said plurality of selectors.

I further provide, in a machine for recording characters, a first character recording means, means including a selector for operating the first character recording means generally in a plane to record its character, a second character recording means, means including a selector for operating the second character recording means to record its character, a third character recording means mounted separately from the first and second character recording means and means operable upon simultaneous operation of said selectors for operating the third character recording means generally in said plane to record its character, the third character recording means having means engaging the first character recording means to move the first character recording means to non-recording position and means extending from the third character recording means transversely of said plane engaging the second character recording means to move the second character recording means to non-recording position upon a recording movement of the third character recording means.

I also provide, in a machine for recording characters, a plurality of character recording means, means including selectors respectively for operating said character recording means to record their characters, another character recording means, an elongated operating element for operating said last mentioned character recording means to record its character, a plurality of cooperable members disposed and operating in a common plane generally parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the operating element and adapted upon simultaneous operation to actuate the operating element and connections between each selector and one of said members whereby upon simultaneous operation of the selectors said members are simultaneously operated to actuate the operating element to operate said last mentioned character recording means to record its character. I further provide, in a machine for recording characters, a plurality of character recording means, means including selectors respectively for operating said character recording means to record their characters, another character recording means, an operating element for operating said last mentioned character recording means to record its character, a plurality of cooperable relatively movable members mounted adjacent or carried by the operating element and adapted upon simultaneous operation to cooperate with one another and with the operating element to actuate the operating element and connections between each selector and one of said members whereby upon simultaneous operation of the selectors said members are simultaneously operated to actuate the operating element to operate said last mentioned character recording means to record its character. Said members may be relatively turnable members pivoted to the operating element and adapted upon simultaneous turning movement to cooperate with one another and with the operating element to actuate the operating element. The operating element may be a lever turnable about its fulcrum for recording its character. The cooperable members may be a plurality of cooperable cams carried by the operating element or lever adapted upon simultaneous movement to engage one another and hence hold one another against further relative movement so that upon simultaneous operation of the selectors the cams are moved into engagement with one another whereafter continued simultaneous operation of the selectors causes actuation of the oparating element or lever and recording of its character. The cams may be cooperable rotatable cams mounted adjacent or pivoted to the operating element or lever and adapted for free individual turning movement but adapted upon simultaneous turning movement to engage one another and hence hold one another against further relative turning movement. Preferably a link is pivoted to each selector and to one of the cams whereby upon simultaneous operation of the selectors the cams are turned into engagement with one another whereafter continued simultaneous operation of the selectors causes actuation of the operating lever and recording of its character.

I further provide, in a machine for recording characters, a series of generally horizontally arranged type bars, means including a selector for operating each of said type bars to record its character, a generally vertically arranged type bar and means operable upon simultaneous operation of a plurality of said selectors for operating the last mentioned type bar to record its character and moving at least one of the horizontally arranged type bars to non-recording position.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of mechanism for recording characters, the mechanism being in its normal non-operated position;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1 as viewed from the right in that figure;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side elevational view similar to Figure 1 showing the mechanism in position with both keys depressed;

Figure 4a is a fragmentary diagrammatic side elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 4 showing the mechanism in position with both keys depressed but with one key slightly leading the other;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the mechanism shown in Figure 4 as viewed from the right in that 5 anism shown in Figure 8 as viewed from the right in that figure.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown largely diagrammatically only enough of a stenographic machine to make clear the structure and operation of one form of the invention. The portions of the machine other than those to which the invention relates may be of a well-known construction.

I have shown a portion of a stenographic machine including the keys marked A and 0. These may be the A and keys in a stenographic machine having a keyboard as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 683,951 (now abandoned). The mechanism is such that when the A key alone is depressed the A type bar is operated to print the letter A, when the 0 key alone is depressed the 0 type bar is operated to print the letter O and when both the A and 0 keys are simultaneously depressed a separate type bar containing a 00 type prints 00-. As indicated above, it is possible to perform this function by use of the mechanism of my Patent No. 2,334,693, but in the mechanism disclosed in that patent all of the type bars are arranged in a single row. In the present instance the 00' type bar is not arranged in the same row with the A and 0 type bars but is offset therefrom. The 00 type bar prints in the same location on the record strip in which at least one of the A and 0 type bars prints. In the particular embodiment illustrated in the present drawings the 00 type bar prints in the same location on the record strip in which the A type bar prints. Ihis is because in the embodiment illustrated the 00 type bar is dis posed to operate in the same plane as the A type bar. The same result would be accomplished if the 00 type bar were disposed to operate in the same plane as the 0 type bar or in a plane intermediate the planes of operation of the A and 0 type bars. In any of such cases no space in the row of principal type bars need be reserved for the offset 00 type bar and the same transverse space on the strip is used when 00 is printed as when A or O is printed.

The roller of the stenographic machine is shown at 2. A strip of paper upon which the record is to be printed is advanced against the roller, the means for advancing and guiding the strip being of known construction and not constituting the present invention. For clarity of showing of the mechanism to which the present invention relates the means for advancing and guiding the strip and the strip itself are not shown in the drawings. The machine comprises a series of principal type bars arranged in a line or row parallel with the axis of the roller 2 and which type bars extend and are adapted for operation in a generally horizontal plane. It is to be understood that there are many such type bars, twentyfive being the number which I prefer to employ in a machine having a keyboard as disclosed in my said copending application although the number of principal type bars has nothing to do with the present invention except that it is to be understood that' the present invention may be applied a plurality of times in the same machine so that the mechanism about to be described may be duplicated repeatedly in the same machine and there may be a series or row of the oifset type bars presently to be described.

I show only two principal type bars, these being designated respectively by reference numerals 3 and 4. Each type bar has at its forward end an upper type 5 and a lower type 6. The upper types 5 are the ones which normally print upon operation of the type bars. The machine is provided with a shift device which is well known in the art and hence is not shown and which when operated lowers the roller. When the shift device is operated the lower types 6 print since they are then opposite the axis of the roller while the upper types 5 are above the axis of the roller. The present invention is equally applicable to a machine provided with a shift device and one not provided with a shift device and since the mechanism constituting the invention functions in precisely the same way whether or not a shift device is provided and whether or not the shift device, if provided, is operated I shall consider only the operation of the upper types 5 on the principal type bars 3 and 4. The upper type on the type bar 3 is A and the upper type on the type bar t is 0, so the type bar 3 will be referred to as the A type bar and the type bar 4 will be referred to as the 0 type bar.

Mounted in the machine frame and extending parallel to the axis of the roller 2 is a round rod '1. Mounted upon the rod 1 for angular movement about the axis of the rod and suitably spaced therealong are a series of bell crank levers 8 each having a short generally upwardly extending arm 9 and a. somewhat longer generally downwardly and laterally extending arm II]. There are as many of the bell crank levers 8 as there are principal type bars. The arm 9 of each of the bell crank levers 8 is pivotally connected with one of the principal type bars at H. Hence turning of a bell crank lever 8 about the rod 1 causes movement of the corresponding type bar in a generally horizontal plane perpendicular to the axis of the roller 2. When a bell crank lever 8 turns in the counterclockwise direction about the axis of the rod I, viewing Figure 1, it causes its type bar to move toward the left to print upon the paper strip disposed against the roller 2. The principal type bars are guided for generally horizontal movement by suitable guide means provided in the machine, the guide means permitting uptilting of the type end of each type bar as will be presently described.

Another round rod l2 whose axis is parallel to that of the rod 1 is mounted in the machine. Piv'otally mounted on the rod l2 are a series of selectors or key levers 13, each in the form of a bell crank lever having a relatively short arm I4 and a relatively long arm i5. Each of the arms [5 is bent laterally at E6 and has an upwardly extending extremity I! on which is mounted a key l8. The key it of the selector l3 which cooperates with the type bar 3 is called the A key. The key It of the selector l3 which cooperates with the type bar l is called the 0 key. Each arm M underlies one of the arms It? as shown so that when a selector is turned in the clockwise direction about the axis of the rod I2 its arm l4 raises the arm I!) of the corresponding lever 8 and moves the corresponding type bar into printing position. A rod I9 is mounted in the machine and a tension coil spring 20 is provided for each lever 8 having one end connected to the rod l9 and the other end to the lever B. The springs 20 normally resiliently urge the arms iii downwardly against the arms I l. The machine is provided with a suitable stop for limiting upward movement of the arms l5 of the selectors It in the position in which they are shown in Figure 1. When one of the keys is depressed and then released it is returned tonormal position by the 7. spring 20. Depressing of each key alone causes printing of its character only.

Mounted in the machine is a rod 2| whose axis is parallel to the axes of the rods 1 and I2. Pivotally mounted on the rod 2| are a series of offset type bar actuating levers, one of which is shown at 22. Pivoted to the left hand end of the lever 22 at 23 and extending generally vertically upwardly therefrom is an offset type bar 24 having at its upper end an upper type 25 and a lower type 26. Another rod 21 is mounted in the machine and a link 28 is provided for each of the oifset type bars 24, each such link being pivoted at one end to its type bar and at its other end to the rod 21. When the lever 22 is turned in the clockwise direction about the axis of the rod 2| the type bar 24 is moved upwardly. The link 28 swings the upper or type end of the type bar to the left to print against the roller 2.

The right hand end of the lever 22, viewing Figures 1, 4, 6 and 8, is enlarged as shown at 29 and has pivoted thereto at 30 and 3|, respectively, two cams 32 and 33. Each of the cams 32 and 33 has an enlarged portion 34 and a recessed portion 35, each of the recessed portions permitting turning of the other cam so that its enlarged portion 34 passes through the recessed portion 35. The enlarged portion 34 of each of the earns 32 and 33 is defined by a circle arc whose center is at the axis of the pivot 33 or 3| for that cam. The recessed portion 35 of each of the cams 32 and 33 is defined by a circle arc whose center is at the axis of the pivot 3| or 30 for the other ca-m when the first mentioned cam is in neutral position as in Figure 1. The radius of each arc defining a recessed portion 35 is slightly greater than the radius of each arc defining an enlarged portion 34. Each arc defining an enlarged portion 34 would if described upon a slightly greater radius approximately form a portion of a circle continuous with the arc defining the recessed portion 35 of the opposite cam when both cams are in neutral postion as in Figure 1, the circles intersecting each other.

Thus, either of the earns 32 and 33 may be turned alone if the other remains stationary in the neutral position of Figure 1. When either of the cams is turned alone its enlarged portion 34 moves generally in the sector bounded by the arc of the recessed portion 35 of the other cam (see Figures 6 and 8). When, however, both cams are turned at the same time, the cam 32 in the counterclockwise direction about its pivot 30 and the cam 33 in the clockwise direction about its pivot 3 i, the enlarged portions of the cams strike each other as shown in Figure 4.

The cam 32 has an arm 36 extending generally upwardly and to the left viewing, for example, Figure 1, and the cam 33 has an arm 3'1 extending generally upwardly and to the right. A link 38 is pivoted to the arm 36 and to the arm of the selector 3 for operating the type bar 3. A link 39 is pivoted to the arm 3'! and to the arm I5 of the selector |3 for operating the type bar 4.

The offset type bar 24 is the 00 type bar. As will be presently described, it is operated when the A and 0 keys are depressed simultaneously, It carries two generally L-shaped detents 40 and 4|, the detent 40 being disposed entirely in the vertical plane of the type bars 3 and 24 and being connected with the type bar 24 near its up-- per end and projecting to the right and upwardly, viewing, for example, Figure 1, to engage the under surface of the type bar 3 to raise the same to non-printing position when the type bar 24 is moved to printing position. The detent 4| is of the same general shape as the detent 40 but is connected with the right hand face of the type bar 24, viewing Figure 3, near its upper end and extends transversely of the vertical plane in which the type bars 3 and 24 operate into the vertical plane in which the type bar 4 operates to engage the undersurface of the type bar 4 to raise the same to non-printing position when the type bar 24 is moved to printing position.

When the A key is depressed alone as shown in Figure 6 its selector l3 operates the A type bar to print the letter A. 'The cam 32 turns freely relatively to the cam 33, the enlarged portion 34 of the cam 32 moving within the recessed portion 35 of the cam 33. Thus when the A key alone is depressed the type bar 24 and its cooperating mechanism have no function. Similarly when the 0 key is depressed alone as shown in Figure 8 its selector |3 operates the 0 type bar to print the letter O. The cam 33 turns freely relatively to the cam 32, the enlarged portion 34 of the cam 33 moving within the recessed portion 35 of the cam 32. Thus when the 0 key alone is depressed the type bar 24 and its cooperating mechanism have no function.

When both of the A and 0 keys are depressed simultaneously as shown in Figure 4 both of the type bars 3 and 4 are projected toward the left in an incipient printing stroke and at the same time the two cams 32 and 33 are operated by the links 38 and 33 so that the cam 32 turns counterclockwise and the cam 33 turns clockwise at the same time until their enlarged portions 34 strike each other as shown in Figure 4. Thereafter the cams hold each other against further turning movement and since downward movement of the arms l5 of the two selectors l3 continues the lever 22 is turned in the clockwise direction about the axis of the rod 2|. This throws the type bar 24 upwardly and the link 28 causes its upper end to swing to the left to print against the roller 2. As the type bar 24 moves upwardly the detents 40 and 4| respectively engage the under surfaces of the principal type bars 3 and 4 to move those type bars to non-printing position as shown in Figure 4. Thus the printing operation of the type bars 3 and 4 which is initiated during the first part of the downward movement of the keys I8 is interrupted before the A and 0 types reach printing position and the type bars 3 and 4 are swung upwardly about the axes of the pivots The 00 type carried by the type bar 24 prints in the same location on the strip in which the A type carried by the type bar 3 would have printed had the A key been operated by itself.

Figures 4 and 5 show the operation of the mechanism when the two keys |8 are pressed exactly simultaneously so that throughout their movement they remain coplanar. My mechanism insures accomplishment of the result above described if both keys are depressed approximately simultaneously even though one somewhat leads the other. Figure 4a shows the condition which obtains when the 0 key somewhat leads the A key during simultaneous depression of the two keys. Instead of the extremities of the enlarged portions 34 striking each other as shown on Figure 4 the extremity of the enlarged portion 34 of the cam 33 has somewhat entered the recessed portion 35 of the cam 32. However, upon depression of the A key the surface of the depressed portion of the cam 32 frictionally engages or presses against the enlarged portion 34 of the cam 33 with sumcient effect to cause the two cams to bind against each other resulting in turning of the lever 22 and accomplishment of exactly the same result as though the two keys had been depressed exactly together throughout their entire movement.

Thus I provide for printing of the additional characters carried by the ofiset type bars but with the same width record strip as would be used by a machine having only the principal type bars and no ofiset type bars. Moreover, the mechanism is comparatively simple, easy and inexpensive to manufacture and reliable in operation.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctively understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied Within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for recording characters, a first character recording means, means includin a selector for operating the first character recording means to record its character, a second character recording means, means including a selector for operating the second character recording means to record its character, a third character recording means, means operable upon simultaneous operation of said selectors for operating the third character recording means to record its character and connections between the third character recording means and the first and second character recording means for moving the first and second character recording means to non-recording positions upon a recording movement of the third character recording means.

2. In a machine for recording characters, a first character recording means, means including a selector for operating the first character recording means generally in a plane to record its character, a second character recording means, means including a selector for operating the second character recording means to record its character, a third character recording means mounted separately from the first and second character recording means, means operable upon simultaneous operation of said selectors for operating the third character recording means generally in said plane to record its character and means connected with the third character recording means adapted upon a recording movement thereof to move the first and second character recording means to non-recording positions.

3. In a machine for recording characters, a first character recording means, means including a selector for operating the first character recording means generally in a plane to record its character on a record receiving medium, a second character recording means, means including a selector for operating the second character recording means to record its character on the record receiving medium, a third character recording means mounted separately from the first and second character recording means, means operable upon simultaneous operation of said selectors for operating the third character recording means generally in said plane to record its character in the same location on the record receiving medium in which the first character recording means would record its character upon operation of the first mentioned selector and means connected with the third character recording means adapted 10 upon a recording movement thereof to move the first and second character recording means to non-recording positions.

4. In a machine for recording characters, a series of type bars arranged in a row, means including a selector for operating each of said type bars to record its character, another type bar offset from said row, means operable upon simultaneous operation of a plurality of said selectors for operating the last mentioned time bar to record its character and means connected with the last mentioned type bar adapted upon a recording movement thereof to move to non-recording positions the type bars normally operated by said plurality of selectors.

5. In a machine for recording characters, a series of type bars arranged in a row, means including a selector for operating each of said type bars to record its character on a record receiving medium, another type bar offset from said row but aligned with one of the first mentioned type bars in a direction transversely of said row, means operable upon simultaneous operation of a plurality of said selectors including the selector for the type bar with which the offset type bar is aligned in a direction transversely of said row for operating the offset type bar to record its character in the same location on the record receiving medium in which the type bar with which the offset type bar is aligned in a direction transversely of said row would record its character upon operation of its selector and means connected with the offset type bar adapted upon a recording movement thereof to move to nonrecording positions the type bars normally operated by said plurality of selectors.

6. In a machine for recording characters, a first character recording means, means including a selector for operating the first character recording means generally in a plane to record its character, a second character recording means, means including a selector for operating the second character recording means to record its character, a third character recording means mounted separately from the first and second character recording means and means operable upon simultaneous operation of said selectors for operating the third character recording means generally in said plane to record its character, the third character recording means having means engaging the first character recording means to move the first character recording means to non-recording position and means extending from the third character recording means transversely of said plane engaging the second character recording means to move the second character recording means to non-recording position upon a recording movement of the third character recording means.

7. In a machine for recording characters, a first character recording means, means including a selector for operating the first character recording means to record its character, a second character recording means, means including a selector for operating the second character recording means to record its character, a third character recording means, means operable upon simultaneous operation of said selectors for operating the third character recording means to record its character and for initiating character recording operations of the first and second character recording means and means acting directly between the third character recording means and the first and second character recording means for interrupting said character recording operations of the first and second character recording 11 means and moving the first and second character recording means to non-recording positions.

8. In a machine for recording characters, a plurality of character recording means, means including selectors respectively for operating said character recording means to record their characters, another character recording means, an elongated operating element for operating said last mentioned character recording means to record its character, a plurality of cooperable members disposed and operating in a common plane generally parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the operating element and adapted upon simultaneous operation to actuate the operating element and connections between each selector and one of said members whereby upon simultaneous operation of the selectors said members are simultaneously operated to actuate the operating element to operate said last mentioned character recording means to record its character.

9. In a machine for recording characters, a plurality of character recording means, means including selectors respectively for operating said character recording means to record their characters, another character recording means, an operating element for operating said last mentioned character recording means to record its character, a plurality of cooperable relatively movable members carried by the operating element and adapted upon simultaneous operation to cooperate with one another and with the operating element to actuate the operating element and connections between each selector and one of said members whereby upon simultaneous op- I enation of the selectors said members are simultaneously operated to actuate the operating element to operate said last mentioned character recording means to record its character.

10. In a machine for recording characters, a plurality of character recording means, means including selectors respectively for operating said character recording means to record their characters, another character recording means, an operating element for operating said last mentioned character recording means to record its character, a, plurality of cooperable relatively turnable members pivoted to the operating element and adapted upon simultaneous turning movement to cooperate with one another and with the operating element to actuate the operating element and connections between each selector and one of said members whereby upon simultaneous operation of the selectors said members are simultaneously turned and the operating element is actuated to operate said last mentioned character recording means to record its character.

11. In a machine for recording characters, a plurality of character recording means, means including selectors respectively for operating said character recording means to record their characters, another character recording means, means including an operating lever for operating said last mentioned character recording means to record its character, a plurality of cooperable cams carried by the operating lever adapted upon simultaneous movement to engage one another and hence hold one another against further relative movement and connections between each selector and one of the cams whereby upon simultaneous operation of the selectors the cams are moved into engagement with one another whereafter continued simultaneous operation of the selectors causes actuation of the operating lever and recording of the character of the last mentioned recording means.

12. In a machine for recording characters, a plurality of type bars, means including selectors respectively for operating said type bars to record their characters, another type bar, means including an operating lever for operating the last mentioned type bar to record its character, a plurality of cooperable rotatable cams pivoted to the operating lever adapted for free individual turning movement but adapted upon simultaneous turning movement to engage one another and hence hold one another against further relative turning movement and a link pivoted to each selector and to one of the cams whereby upon simultaneous operation of the selectors the cams are turned into engagement with one another whereafter continued simultaneous operation of the selectors causes actuation of the operating lever and recording of the character of the last mentioned type bar.

13. In a machine for recording characters, a plurality of character recording means, means including selectors respectively for operating said character recording means to record their characters on a record receiving medium, another character recording means, an operating element for operating said last mentioned character recording means to record its character on the record receiving medium, a plurality of cooperable members mounted adjacent the operating element adapted upon simultaneous operation to actuate the operating element and connections between each selector and one of said members whereby upon simultaneous operation of the selectors said members are simultaneously operated to actuate the operating element to operate said last mentioned character recording means to record its character in the same location on the record receiving medium in which at least one of the first mentioned character recording means would record its character upon operation of its selector.

14. In a machine for recording characters, a plurality of character recording means, means including selectors respectively for operating said character recording means to record their characters on a record receiving medium, another character recording means, an operating element for operating said last mentioned character recording means to record its character on the record receiving medium, a plurality of members cooperable with each other and with the operating element adapted upon their simultaneous operation to actuate the operating element, connections between each selector and one of said members whereby upon simultaneous operation of the selectors said members are simultaneously operated to actuate the operating element to operate said last mentioned character recording means to record its character in the same location on the record receiving medium in which at least one of the first mentioned character recording means would record its character upon operation of its selector and means connected with the last mentioned character recording means for moving to non-recording position the first mentioned character recording means.

15. In a machine for recording characters, a plurality of character recording means, means including selectors respectively for operating said character recording means to record their characters on a record receiving medium, another character recording means, means including an operating lever for operating said last mentioned 1 13 character recording means to record its character on the record receiving medium, a plurality of cooperable cams carried by the operating lever adapted upon simultaneous movement to engage one another and hence hold one another against further relative movement, connections between each selector and one of the cams whereby upon simultaneous operation of the selectors the cams are moved into engagement with one another whereafter continued simultaneous operation of the selectors causes actuation of the operating lever and recording of the character of the last mentioned recording means in the same location on the record receiving medium in which at least one of the first mentioned character recording means would record its character upon operation of its selector and means connected with the last mentioned character recording means for moving to non-recording position the first mentioned character recording means.

16. In a machine for recording characters, a

14 series of generally horizontally arranged type bars, means including a selector for operating each of said type bars to record its character, a generally vertically arranged type bar and means operable upon simultaneous operation of a plurality of said selectors for operating the last mentioned type bar to record its character and moving at least one of the horizontally arranged type bars to non-recording position.

HARRY BASTOW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,932,914 Shelton et a1. Oct. 31, 1933 2,189,023 Ayres Feb. 6, 1940 20 2,334,693 Bastow Nov. 23, 1943 

